Low turnout in Ward 3 election seen as potential key factor

Joe Cohen

Friday

Mar 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM

NEW BEDFORD — If the ongoing race for special election to the Ward 3 City Council seat has been anything, it is lackluster and low-key and, as a result, some political veterans — including one of the candidates — are predicting a low turnout.

NEW BEDFORD — If the ongoing race for special election to the Ward 3 City Council seat has been anything, it is lackluster and low-key and, as a result, some political veterans — including one of the candidates — are predicting a low turnout.

George Rogers — a veteran of many campaigns and currently seeking the Ward 3 seat — told supporters at a town hall-style meeting Thursday night that getting voters to come out April 8 is going to be difficult. But he said he can turn that to his advantage because he has a long-standing organization and extensive data on voters that could give him the edge to win.

Speaking to about 35 people at a local hotel meeting room, Mr. Rogers hit strongly on his major theme of experience in public office versus the political newcomer he is

running against.

With less than two weeks before the special election, Mr. Rogers said low voter turnout means a small number of voters could swing the outcome.

Mr. Rogers, 74, and retired from teaching, is a former state senator, state representative, mayor and member of the City Council.

He is facing Kathy Dehner, 51, owner of a real estate brokerage. She is running on a platform of change.

To date, both candidates' campaigns have been relatively low-key. The seat is open because the incumbent, Joe F. DeMedeiros, ran unopposed in November, then immediately after the election announced he was resigning.

At Mr. Rogers' meeting, former state Rep. Tom Lopes said, "There is no question the ward can benefit from experience. ... (Mr. DeMedeiros) used it for his own political benefit. ... He did not come out to meetings" with residents.

Mr. Rogers told those present that he plans, if elected, to create an advisory committee that would include Mr. Lopes and others from Ward 3 to guide him in addressing issues.

Ms. Dehner has seized on that proposal and criticized it. She issued a prepared statement Thursday saying Mr. Rogers' "idea (is) self-serving government in disguise."

"The days of politicians catering only to the needs of their friends are the days of the past that I know the people of Ward 3 reject," she said. She said Mr. Rogers is going to "hand-pick a chosen few of his friends to dictate the needs of Ward 3," and she referred to him as a "professional politician."

Asked to react to Ms. Dehner's charges, Mr. Rogers said he did not believe them worthy of a response.

Contact Joe Cohen at

jcohen@s-t.com

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